Typhoon Rananim, the 14th this year, has moved westward to east China's Jiangxi Province Friday morning, weakening to a tropical storm.

Rananim hit the Shangrao district in the northern part of the province at about 11:00 AM Friday, bringing heavy rains and gales to the drought-hit province.

According to the provincial meteorological bureau, most parts of the province will have showers or thundershowers, plus with moderate breeze at force 4 to 5, on Friday and Saturday. The Poyang Lake will have gale of force 7 to 8.

The northern part of Jiangxi, such as Guangfeng county, experienced heavy rains early Friday.

Experts noted that the heavy rain will help ease the dry situation in the province. Since early July, the province has suffered from severe water shortage, with 70 percent of the province reporting dry spells. Jiangxi has had limited drinking water for more than 1 million people, and 20 percent of its crops have been affected by drought.

According to the China's Central Meteorological Station, the tropic storm will sweep the southwestern part of east China's Anhui Province and the eastern part of central China's Hubei Province Friday night.

Rananim landed at Shitang town of Wenling city of Zhejiang Province at 8:00 PM Thursday. As of 5:00 AM Friday, Rananim had affected 8.59 million people, claiming at least 63 lives and leaving another 15 people missing, according to the latest statistics from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2004)